Dave Bakke: Four-day work week could mean savings for state

Dave Bakke

Wednesday

Jun 24, 2009 at 12:01 AMJun 24, 2009 at 1:04 PM

They have discussed a tax increase, layoffs, cuts in a variety of services that affect a significant portion of Illinoisans, a wage freeze, wage reductions and unpaid furlough days. But neither Illinois’ legislators nor the governor has put a four-day work week for state employees on the table. Should they?

They have discussed a tax increase, layoffs, cuts in a variety of services that affect a significant portion of Illinoisans, a wage freeze, wage reductions and unpaid furlough days.

But neither Illinois’ legislators or governor has put a four-day work week for state employees on the table. Should they?

It has been a year since Utah led the country in putting 17,000 of its state employees on a weekly schedule of four 10-hour days. State offices are closed one day a week. The impetus was last summer’s $4 a gallon gasoline. Soon, Utah’s governor will decide whether to extend the four-day work week.

Studies show that, so far, the short week is saving the state of Utah some money, though not as much as it would like. But governmental officials from other states (except ours, apparently) routinely call Utah to get particulars on how the four-day week has been received and how much money has been saved.

One reason for the interest from other states: “Massive. Budget. Deficits,” New York State Rep. Michael Gianaris told the Associated Press. Gianaris estimates his state would save $30 million by switching to a four-day week.

Mike Hansen of the Utah Governor's Office of Planning and Budget told reporters he is enthusiastic about the early results. The state expects eventually to save $3 million on energy costs annually, but it will take several years for all the energy-conserving practices to take hold, he said.

If Illinois’ leadership is even considering a four-day week for state employees, it’s a secret. Gov. Pat Quinn’s spokesman didn’t return a call asking whether a four-day work week would even be considered. Anyway, the governor has put all his eggs in the tax increase basket. So has the largest state workers union.

Anders Lindall, spokesman for AFSCME Council 31 representing about 35,000 Illinois state employees, said a four-day week would have a negligible effect on Illinois’ budget deficit, which is estimated at $9 billion. Salaries would remain the same, plus too many state workers would be exempt.

“The largest employers among state agencies are Corrections -- the prisons -- which obviously would not be impacted. The Human Services facilities, including residential 24/7 facilities for individuals with severe developmental disabilities, wouldn’t be affected. The veterans homes employ hundreds who would not be affected.”

Besides, Lindall says, during a recession, when demand is highest, is not the time to be closing the state’s social service agencies one day a week. All in all, he says, he will stick with a tax increase as a better solution.

Granted, a four-day work week by itself wouldn’t solve the state’s $9 billion shortfall. But as a piece of the overall solution, wouldn’t it help? And why are other states considering it if it’s not going to help?

Confronted with an array of bad choices, this one seems the least painful when compared to raising taxes or shutting down facilities.

When state employees in Utah were polled, 70 percent said they like getting a three-day weekend every week. The union representing state employees in New Hampshire is asking Gov. John Lynch to implement a four-day work week.

While it may be inconvenient for the public to find state offices closed on, say, Fridays, those 10-hour days also make it easier for people with full-time jobs to get to state facilities after work.

If a four-day week saved tens of millions, and there is no reason it wouldn’t, that might mean staving off a cutback or saving someone’s job somewhere else in the governmental system.

In times like these, when Illinois faces the worst financial problems in the state’s history, nothing should be off the table. Examine tax hikes and layoffs and furloughs all you want, legislators, but a four-day work week for state employees should be in the mix as well.